Luxembourg’s soil still harbours dangers

Decades after the end of the Second World War, unexploded ordnance and remnants of military equipment continue to pose a real danger within the Grand Duchy. The Luxembourg Army has issued an official warning highlighting the regular discovery of dangerous objects during construction and agricultural work, and even during ordinary walks in the countryside.

Military experts emphasise that the general public often underestimates the danger posed by old munitions. The appearance of an object—whether it shows signs of severe corrosion or visible damage—is no guarantee of its safety. On the contrary, chemical processes inside the detonators can make the device extremely unstable, capable of detonating at the slightest physical impact.

In light of this, the army has established strict safety protocols: under no circumstances should suspicious objects be touched, moved or tampered with. Any handling of an explosive device poses a direct risk to life. If a potentially dangerous object is discovered, members of the public are instructed to remain calm, move to a safe distance and immediately contact the police on 113 or the army’s bomb disposal unit directly on 247-57940.

Upon receiving a report, specialist personnel are dispatched to the site to identify and safely dispose of the find. The military leadership emphasises that promptly informing the authorities is the only effective way to prevent tragic incidents linked to the military heritage of the past.